Long before the United States declared independence on July 4, 1776, the people of the British Colonies in North America were taking sides – Patriots vs. Royalists. Here in the District of Maine, residents of Damariscotta took an early and definitive stand, formalizing their support for the Patriot cause in a public document.

On March 6, 1775, Nathan Chapman, Thomas Flint, and Anthony Chapman signed the Five Resolves as representatives of “the Inhabitance of a place called Damiscota,” making a clear declaration of their commitment to independence. The document, with minor spelling adjustments made here for clarity, reads:

"March the 6th in the year 1775
Then the Inhabitants of a place called Damiscota being with out the bound of Every Town but in the County of Lincoln met together to Consider of the Distressed State and Condition of North america under the present Reign which are so notorious to us that we should be glad never to hear of them again and have passed these Resolves.
1 That we will abide by the Doings of (the) great and general Congress of North America from first to last
2  Resolved to obey all orders that shall be given out from our provincial Congress
3ly  Resolved to Stand with our breather the Sons of Liberty in the Defense of Rights and Liberties against all tyrannical (power) let it Come from what quarter it will at the Hazard of our Estates and Lives
4ly  Chose a Committee to Inspect Import and Export according to the order of the Congress
5ly  Chose the officers and Enlisted a Company the Same Day
A true Copy attested by the Committee
Anthony Chapman
Thomas Flint
Nathan Chapman"

Previous to this declaration, there had been a standoff between a British officer and the militia of Salem on February 26, 1775 called Salem’s Alarm and later Leslie’s Retreat (the later named for the British officer who gave up his attempt to find cannon in Salem).  Then, on April 19, just over a month after the Damariscotta Committee penned their stand, the engagements at Concord and Lexington took place.

As the summer of 1775 approached, influential figures such as Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation, Conrad Heyer of Waldoboro, Sam Hoston of Searsport, and Samuel McCobb of Georgetown, Maine, would align with the Patriots' side, playing notable roles in the events of the upcoming years.

The Committee representing the inhabitants of Damariscotta was comprised of three local leaders. Nathan Chapman, age 68, was brother to Nathaniel Chapman whose house still stands at the head of Main Street and worked land at Back Meadow. Anthony Chapman, age 62, was Nathaniel’s half-brother and a surveyor, and Thomas Flint, age 42, was a ship’s surgeon.

The Chapman-Hall House historic site is one of the three Lincoln County Historical Association’s properties; it preserves the history of the site through education programs, special events, and welcoming visitors during the summer season.  

The Lincoln County Historical Association is a nonprofit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House, the 1761 Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset.  For more information about the Lincoln County Historical Association’s programs and educational outreach, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org and Facebook Lincoln County Historical Association Maine.